Towel cabinet



.lune 24, 1930.

F. M. STEINE'R TOWEL CABINET -Fi1ed July 25, 1928 X s sheets-sheet 2 June 24, 1930.

' Filed July 25,v 1928 F. M. STEINER' TOWEL CABINET 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FRANK/Vl JTE/NEE Patented June 24, 1930 tasses rear FRANK M. STEINER, OF MINNEAPOLIS,

NNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO STEIENER SALES COMPANY, OE SALT LAKE CITY, "UTAH, A. CORPORATION OF UTAH Towne Ciminna;

Application filed July 25,

My present invention relates to a floor or stand type of cabinet and is designed as an improvement of the cabinet shown and described in the pending applica-tion of Frank '5 M. Steiner and Gottfrid Olson, No. 2665637, filed April 2, i928. in cabinets of this type which stand upon the licor and are adapted to be moved from place to place in distinction from the wall type of cabinet 'that is securely fastened, it is important to provide a strong, durable construction to prevent the walls from becoming bent or twisted, and thereby interfere with the proper operation of the towel feeding and winding mechanism. This rigid construction becomes particularly important when the cabinet is made of a comparatively light gage of metal which might become easily bent or the walls separated if not securely braced or tied together.

An object therefore of my present invention is to provide a'rnetal case for a towel cabinet adapted to stand upon the floor, that will be economical to build, attractive in appearance and may be loaded easily and which provides means for lool@ ing the toweling in the cabinet.

A further object is to provide a clean towel chamber vor space that is adapted for containing 25, 50 or more yards of toweling.

i further object is to provide a cabinet of this type which may be used with a time controlling feed'lmechanism or not, as preferred. A further object is to provide a cabinet having provision for convenient access to the feed roll from the front of the cabinet without weakening or danger of spreading the upper side walls of the cabinet.

A further object is to provide means for convenient access to the upper front portion of the cabinet, leaving the mirror fixed and immovable and thereby increasing the strength of the upper walls of the cabinet and eliminating danger of bre-alliage of the mirror. 1

A further object is to render the lower front 'portion of the cabinet rigid and substantial in construction by providing a fixed panel at this point which ties the opposite 1928. Serial No. 295,225.

side walls firmly together and prevents possibility of separation of such walls and the disarrangement of the lfeed and takeup rolls.

cabinet of the class described, having means for drawing or pulling the tail end of the towel into the cabinet after said end is passed between the pinch and feed rolls of the cabinet, thereby preventing such porn tion of the soiled towel from being exposed to view, after all of the clean toweling has vbeen exhausted.

A further object is to provide means for pulling the tail end of the soiled towel into the cabinet, comprising two oscillatable taire-up rolls mounted in the lower portion of the cabinet; one operating to pull the soiled towel web into the cabinet, during normal functioning of the cabinet and to prevent it from hanging downwardly over the front wall thereof; and the other roll cooperating with said first mentioned roll to pull the tail end of the towel into the cabinet, after such end of the towel has been used and released by the user, and an antifriction roller, having a roughened surface, being mounted at the lower portion of the opening in the cabinet through which the towel is drawn by the user, which cooperates with said oscillatable rolls to pull the tail end of the towel into the cabinet, the .momentum of said anti-friction roll, caused by the gravitational dropping of theswinging rolls, automatically feeding the towel into the cabinet.

@ther objects of the invention will appear from the following detailed description.

ln the' accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure l is a vertical sectional view through a stand type of cabinet embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view showing the position of the parts "in the operation of placing the clean towel supply therein;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure l;

Figure l is a horizontal sectional view on the line l--fl of Figure 2 A further object is to yprovide a towel the tail end of CJD Figure is a view showing the lower portion of the cabinet broken away to illustrate the means provided for pulling the tail end of the towel into the cabinet; and

Figure 6 is a view showing a modilied construction embodying two oscillatable take-up rolls.

This cabinet is preferably made of a suitable gage of sheet metal and comprises side panels 2, a bottom 4l having suitable supporting legs 5, a rear lower fixed panel 6 connecting the side walls, and a corresponding rigid fixed panel 7 at the front of the cabinet which extends from the bottom to a point snbstantially midway of the cabinet. A fixed top panel 8 joins together the upper ends of the side walls, and a suitable mirror 9 is mounted in a downwardly and forwardly inclined section of said panel. A flap door 10 is hinged at 11 below the top of the cabinet and extends downwardly within an opening 12 at the front of the cabinet through which the 1user has access to the clean towel web, the lower portion of said opening being bounded by the upper edge of the rigid panel 7. The panelsG and 7 tie together the corresponding rear and forward edges of the side walls of the cabinet and hold these walls securely in parallel relation. These panels also present smooth, unbroken edges for the lower walls of the cabinet, and while adding considerably to the strength and rigidity of the walls, do not in any way detract from the neatornamental appearance of this portion of the cabinet. The top panel 8 with the part that supports the mirror 9, is also rigid and ties together the upper side walls, holding them securely from spreading and presenting a finished appearance to the top of the cabinet. Because the mirror 9 is fixed, there is little danger Yof it being broken, which it might be if mounted in a movable section or door of the cabinet. rllhe door 10 is provided with a suitable locking device 13 and when this door is raised to the position indicated in Figure 2, the feed mechanism of the cabinet will be exposed and access readily obtained thereto.

It will be noted that the cabinet is of the saine depth at the top as at the bottom, and the purpose of this is to provide suflicient room for mounting the feed and take-up rolls on substantially the saine level. This increased depth of the cabinet also pro ides ample space for the maximum supply or length of clean towel that it is desired to put in to the cabinet.

I prefer to mount the feed and take-up mechanism within the cabinet by providing side plates 14 supported at 15 and 15 by suitable screws or bolts and held in rigid parallel relation by a cross tie-rod 16. On disconnecting the side plates from the cabinet walls, the feed rolls and the other parts va raised vertical position with supported by these plates can be conveniently removed from the cabinet for substitution or repairs. 17 represents the forward feed or delivery roll and 18 the take-up feed roll and 19 thedriving connection between these rolls to insure their simultaneous movement. 17 represents a guard plate preferably of sheet instal arranged between the rolls 17 and 18 to prevent possibility of contact between the clean towel feed roll and the soiled towel web. A shelf 20 is provided beneath the rolls 17 and 18 and is preferably supported by means of lugs 21 and pins 22 which are adapted to fit into holes 23 spaced apart vertically in the side walls of the cabinet, the adjustment of this plate increasing or decreasing as desired the distance between it and the rolls above to permit the cabinet to be adapted for a small or large towel supply, twenty-live yards, fifty or more as may be preferred. The rear of the shelf preferably has a turned up portion 24 which tends to throw the supply of towel forwardly on the shelf and cause it to remain on substantially the middle portion thereof'. portion 24- also forms a guide for the soiled towel which passes upwardly between this curved portion and a door 25 which prefer ably extends from the top of the cabinet to the hxed panel 6. Slots 26 are provided in the plates 1e to receive a pinch roll 27, notches 28 forming extensions of these slots to receive the spindle of the pinch roll' dur- This upwardly curved ing the operation of loading the cabinet as' indicated in Figure 2. lll/*hen the pinch roll .is in use, it lies in the vertical portion of the slots 26 and the web of clean towel 29 is stretched upwardly from the supply between the feed roll 17 and the pinch roll 'T105 27 and from thence is carried downwardly and outwardly to a point where it can be conveniently reached through the opening in the front of the cabinet.

Access to the clean towel supply is pre-' vented by a guard or door 30 having spring hinges 31 which normally hold this door in its upper edge concealed by the flap 10 so that access cannot be had to this edge to open the door and obtain enti-ance to the clean towel supply until the flap 10 is first unlocked and raised. The upper edge of the door 30 preferably has a rolled or rounded edge 32 over which the clean towel may easily slide as it is drawn out of the cabinet by the user. A roll 33 is preferably provided in the lower portion of the opening in the front of the cabinet to aid in guiding the soiled towel into the chamber 34 in the bottoni of the cabinet and a tale-up device 35 is pivoted at 36 within the chamber 34 and normally tends to draw the towel web within the chamber, preventing any unsightly portion from being exposed when it is released by Y the user. From this take-up device the towel web is stretched upwardly between the part 24 and the rear door of the cabinet to a take-up roll 37 on which the web of soiled towel is wound, this web contacting` with the take-up feed roll 18 so that as the clean towel is pulled out of the cabinet a corresponding length will be wound on the takeup roll. Notches 38 are provided in the upper edge of the plates 14 in which this take-up roll may be placed upon its removal from the slots 39 while the cabinet is being loaded, as indicated in Figure 2.

The operation of this cabinet is regulated i by a feed control mechanism comprising a suitable lever 40 adapted to be manipulated by the user to actuate the feed roll release mechanism 41 which I do not illustrate and describe in detail herein, as it is substantially the same as shown and described in the application of Frank G. Steiner, No. 223,696, filed October 3, 1927.

The door 25 in the rear of the cabinet allows convenient access to the soiled towel roll and the rear of the delivery mechanism,

and permits removal of the soiled towel and the loading of the cabinet with the clean towel conveniently and expeditiously.

To cause the tail end 42 of the towel, after it has been used, to be drawn or pulled into the cabinet, so that it will not hang downwardly over the front wall 7, the roll 33 is preferably mounted in suitable anti-friction bearings and is made sufficiently large in diameter to cause the reverse rotation thereof, as shown in Figure 5, to feed the tail end 42 of the towel into the cabinet. Reverse rotation of the roll 33 is caused by the gravitational dropping of the lowei` taire-up roll 43 from the dotted to the full line position shown in 1, which exerts a pull on the exposed towel web causing it to spin the roll 33. The peripheral surface of the roll 33 preferably roughened to prevent slippage of the towel web thereon.

Figure 6 illustrates a cabinet having an auxiliary take-up roll 44 mounted for oscillatory movement upon arms 45 pivoted at 45 to the side walls of the cabinet. The arms 45 and roll 44 are normally retained in the dotted line position shown, and when the tail end 42 of the towel is pulled from between the pinch roll 27 and feed roll 17 by the user, and the latter subsequently releases his hold thereon, the take-up rolls 43 and 44 will automatically assume the full line position shown in Figure 6, causing the tail end of the towel to be drawn into the cabinet, assisted by the reversed rotation of the antifriction roll 33. Downward movement of the arms 45 is limited by suitable stops 47.

' A cabinet of the above construction will be economical. to build and attractive in appearance. It may be loaded easily with clean towel and the soiled towel as readily removed, and when in use the towel will be loclredand inaccessible. The cabinet can be readily adapted for a small or large supply of toweling and may be used with or withoin'.l the feed control device. The lfixed mirror provides all the advantages of a strong con struction across the top of the cabinet and the hinged flap beneath performs all the functions of a hinged top door. Ample room is provided by the flap for placing the towel over the pinch roll. This pinch roll, while mounted in the vertical slot, is preventedrby the iap from being drawn away from the feed roll when the user exerts a pull on the towel. All the advantages of an open top are obtained and at the same time the front top corners are firmly tied together by the metal frame or panel in which the mirror is mounted. There is also less danger' of breaking the mirror and the depending flap when closed, overhangs the swinging door of the towel supply chamber and prevents it from being opened. rlhe large door in the rear oi the'cabinet allows access to the top and bottom thereof and also ample room to get at the feed mechanism or. disconnect theV side plates from the walls to remove them and the feed mechanism from the cabinet. The use of the door in the back also permits a solid, substantial front panel which firmly ties together the side walls and insures a rigid substantial type of cabinet.

By the employment of the take-up roll 43 in conjunction with the anti-friction roll 33, the tail end 42 of the towel when used will be drawn or pulled into the cabinet as above described. rlhis is an important feature of the invention as it prevents the soiled towel from contacting with and contaminating the front wall 7 of the cabinet `after it has been used. Also, by pulling the tail end of the towel into the cabinet such portion of the towel cannot be repeatedly used which is possible with ordinary cabinets where the tail end of the towel is allowed .to hang from the cabinet in a position in front of the wall 7 where it may readily be grasped by a person. lt will also be noted that the periphery of the roll 33 projects beyond the surface of the front wall l7 so that should the tail end of the towel accidentally depend from the roll 33 in a position in front of the wall 7, it will not contact therewith.

l claim as my invention:

1. A towel cabinet having an opening in the front thereof for delivery ofthe cleantowel, a support within the cabinet in the rear of said opening adapted to receive a supply of clean towel, a feed roll above said support whereto the clean towel may be stretched for'delivery through said opening, a gate in front of said feed roll and said towel support and adapted to move forwardly through said opening and allow access to the space above said support, said gate nor- Jee mally concealing the towelY supply and preventing access thereto, and a door mounted above said gate in the frontof the cabinet and having a lower portion depending below the upper portion of said gate and thereby preventing the opening of said gate until said door is also opened, and means for holding said door in its closed position.

2. A towel cabinet having an opening in the front thereof for the delivery of the clean towel, a normally stationary support Within said cabinet in the rear of said opening, adapted to receive a supply of clean towel, a feed roll mounted in said cabinet above said support and whereto the web of clean towel may be stretched for delivery through said opening, a gate having its lower portion hinged near said support and adapted to project upwardly within said cabinet in the rear of said opening and normally conceal the towel supply and prevent access thereto, said gate having a forward, downward movement through said opening to expose the towel supply, and means mounted in the front of the cabinet above said gate and depending below the upper portion of said gate to prevent it from being swung to its open posit-ion, and a device' for normally holding said means in its closed position.

3. A towel cabinet having a clean towel delivery opening in the front thereof, a support within said cabinet in the rear of said opening adapted to receive a supply of clean towel, a feed roll mounted in said cabinet above said support and whereto the web of clean towel may be stretched for delivery through said opening, a gate hinged near said support and extending upwardly therefrom in the rear of said opening and adapted to normally conceal the supply of clean towel, said gate having a movement independent of said support and feed roll, outwardly and downwardly through said opening to allow convenient access to said feed roll and towel supply, the top of said cabinet having a. fixed panel provided with a forwardly and downwardly extending portion forming the upperendge of said delivery opening, and a door hinged to said edge and normally depending below theupper portion of said gate to prevent outward movement thereof, said door having means for normally holding it inY its closed gate-retaining position.

4. A towel cabinet having an opening in the front thereof for delivery of the clean towel, a support within said cabinet in the rear of said` opening adapted to receive a supply of clean towel, a feed roll mounted in said cabinet above the towel supply and whereto the web of clean towel may be stretched from said supply, a gate mounted in said cabinet in front of said towel support and extending upwardly in front of said feed roll, said gate having a movement independent of said feed roll, outwardly through said delivery opening to expose said feed roll and the towel supply, and means above said delivery opening and normally depending below the upper portion of said gate with a lock thereon to prevent premature or unauthorized opening of said gate.

5. A towel cabinet having an opening in its upper front wall through which access may be had to the clean towel, a pivoted support for the supply of clean towel within the cabinet, adjustable pivot pins fitting within sockets provided upon differentlevels in the side walls of the cabinet and adapting said pivoted support for vertical adjustment, delivery and take up feed rolls mounted in the cabinet above said support and having a driving connection between them, whereby the web of a clean towel may be stretched to contact with said delivery feed roll and depend therefrom in the rear of said opening, and a take up roll whereon the web of soiled towel may be wound arranged for contact with said take up feed roll.

6. A towel cabinet having an opening in its front through which access may be had to the clean towel, a support for clean towel within the cabinet, feed and take up mechanism mounted in the cabinet to engage and feed the clean towel upon pull by the user and wind up a corresponding length of soiled towel, the lower portion of the opening in the front of the cabinet having an anti-friction surface over which the web of clean towel may pass, links pivoted in said cabinet adjacent said front wall below said anti-frictionsurface, a roller carried by said links to normally swing with said links to a position adjacent the front wall of the cabinet when the towel is pulled out for use, said roller contacting with the soiled web and adapted to swing inwardly with said links when the towel is released by the user and jerk the loose end of the used towel over said anti-friction surface into the lower portion of the cabinet.

V7. A towel cabinet having an opening in the front thereof for the delivery of the clean towel, a support for a clean towel supply adjacent said opening, a feed roll above said support whereto the web of clean towel may be stretched to depend in the rear of said opening in position to be grasped bythe user, means in the lower portion of the cabinet to engage the web of towel and normally exert a downward pull thereon when the towel is in use and a freely revoluble roller positioned at the' bottom of said opening and adapted to engage the towel web and when started to rotate to exert an inward pull on said towel whereby the loos-e end of the towel when released by the user will be immediately pulled into the cabinet by the a supply ofY combined action of said means and said roller.

8. A towel Cabinet having feed and take up rolls with an opening in its front through which a loop of towel may be drawn foi` use from the feed roll and taken up on the take up roll, a rollei` at the bottom of said opening and means within the cabinet to automatically pull the towel into the cabinet ovei` the roller and start the same rotating the roller having suieient momentum to carry into the cabinet the end of the towel web after the same is exhausted and pulled off the feed roll.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of July, 1928.

FRANK M. STEINER. 

